glasses case sewing kit

a handy, compact sewing kit - perfect for slipping in your bag when you're out and about...

You will need

old glasses case
30cm x 30cm of fabric (for outer)
30cm x 30cm of fabric (for lining)
10cm x 20cm scrap of fabric (for pincushion)

small amount of stuffing (for pincushion)
PVA glue
stiff glue brush
sewing needle,pins & scissors
sewing machine (optional)
2 small buttons
bone folder or knitting needle
blue-tack (optional) 

...a bit cruel, but I don't have proper step-by-step photographs for this project! You will find it easier using a glasses case which is 'square-isn' in shape, and fabrics which are fine in weight, and/or of fairly loose weave - this will assist smooth corners. If your fabric buckles at the corners, fold neat little pleats at the curves...

I've taken a few close up photos from the finished project to illustrate the instructions as best I can and slotted them into the steps below to clarify a bit more...

1

Cut an oblong of fabric several centimetres larger all around than the lid of your glasses case, and another for the base. With one of the fabric pieces right side down and laid horizontally in front of you, fold the bottom edge up by 5mm and glue into position – this edge will lay along the hinge of the case. Do the same with the other fabric piece and leave to one side to dry.

2

Cover the outside of your glasses case first – use PVA glue and a stiff glue brush to ‘stab’ the wrong side of the fabric first(see tip). Leave it for a few minutes so that the glue is not so wet
(this will prevent it from
oozing through the fabric when you apply it).

3

Centre the folded edge of the glued piece of fabric along the hinge, then gently smooth it out across the curved shape of the case, making use of the grain and bias of the fabric to reduce the wrinkling. Leave to dry.

4

Repeat steps 2 and 3 with the base of the case.

5

Trim the excess fabric down to 5mm all around the opening of the case. Apply glue to the rim and several mms inside the unhinged edges. Fold and smooth the fabric cover, rub it with the bone folder or end of a knitting needle to smooth it and leave to dry.

6

The best thing to do now is to make yourself a pattern for the lining of the case. Use a scrap of fabric and smooth it into position inside the glasses case, which should be open as wide as possible. You can use small pieces of blue tack to hold it in position while you do this. Trim it to fit exactly around all the edges. Remove your ‘pattern’ and use it to cut your floral 
lining fabric.

7

Repeat the gluing process
 to insert the lining, making 
sure your case is open as wide
 as possible when doing so. Use small sharp scissors to trim the raw edge 1mm or so below the edge of the case rim and rub it all the way around with the bone folder or the end of a knitting needle to ensure it is firmly attached.



8

Make a small pincushion by cutting two rectangles of fabric roughly half the length of your case and the width plus 2cm. Place the two pieces right sides together, and stitch a 1cm seam all the way around leaving a couple of centimetres for a turning gap. Turn right sides out through the gap, stuff and close the gap with small stitches by hand. Finally, stitch the two buttons to the centre of the pincushion, one on ether side with the fabric and stuffing sandwiched between.

tip

Stab your loaded glue brush on a scrap of paper first, before applying it to the fabric – you don’t want it over-laden, especially when using finer fabrics, such as the lawn 
for the lining.